Christian devotion: Rescuing Refugees - Exodus 22:21

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” – Exodus 22:21

            The recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Baghdad have resulted in a lot of paranoia and prejudice being expressed by politicians in public, people on the street, and even pastors from pulpits. Instead of being faithful, numerous Christians are being fearful and allowing heartless cowards to disrupt their lives. The whole point of being a terrorist is to foment terror and provoke insecurity; when we allow ourselves to be driven by our fears instead of relying upon our freedoms, we lose our liberty and become captive to tyranny.

            I am dismayed and deeply disappointed in political leaders who, through their xenophobia, seek to close our borders, reject refugees, and castigate an entire religion as being hostile, volatile, and violent. When we allow that kind of intolerance and prejudice to go unchecked, we start to go down a totalitarian path, the likes of which we have not seen or known in almost eighty years.

            The men, women, and children who are fleeing the Middle East are not seeking to fleece our resources, overturn our society, or destroy our civilization. They are running away from rabid religious extremists who want to eradicate them. If we were in the same tragic and fearful plight, we would want to get our families and friends to safety wherever we could find it.

            As Christians, we are known as People of the Book to the Islamic world. This means that they regard us as being shaped and influenced by God’s Word in our Bibles. We also, in the Bible Belt, take great pride in applying the scriptures in our daily lives. Since this is the case, then our attitudes and choices, our opinions and compassion for Syrian refugees, and others like them, should be based upon these words, which come directly from God:

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” – Exodus 22:21

            The tragic situation in the Middle East may take decades to heal; the helpless situation of the Syrian refugees can be dealt with now. We need to open our hearts and arms, our communities and borders to receive them. We need to be faithful Christians and not fearful citizens. We need to show compassion instead of rejection. We need to do what Christ, who was once a refugee, would do: we need to welcome them.

Questions for reflection

Am I going to live in fear or by faith? Am I willing to welcome or reject refugees?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your family once fled from the violence and tyranny of Herod, who wanted to kill You as a child. You know the anxiety of being a refugee; You understand the need to be welcomed and made safe. Help us to overcome our fears and apply our faith, according to God’s Word. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called Stellar Icon, featuring Mary and Jesus as refugees. If you would like to see a larger version, please click on this link: Mary.

Justice Devotion - Rescue Me - Psalm 144:11

Psalm 144:11  Rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.

            Yesterday, on Facebook, some people posted a tragic picture of a child who had been drowned by the shores of the Mediterranean. The wee lad just looked as though he was sleeping. He was only about 2-3 years old. His parents had been trying to flee Syria from the ISIS terrorists. Thousands of people have been filling boats and small ships to over-capacity, as they try to escape to European lands where they hope to be granted asylum. It’s a terrible tragedy because hundreds of these migrants have drowned due to their vessels capsizing. They flee for their lives, carrying whatever they can, trying to protect their families, only to drown on the stormy Mediterranean seas.

            The fleeing people are looking to the rest of the world to help them in their plight. They are desperately seeking safety and sanctuary, in the face of an unrestrained evil army of thugs and fanatics, the likes of which the world has not seen since the Serbian-Croatian conflict from twenty years ago.

            For the sake of these fleeing migrants – men, women, and children – the political leaders of our nations need to offer more help, better placement, and, ultimately, more protection against ISIS. If nothing more is done, then we will sadly see more infants’ bodies on Mediterranean shores. We need to rescue, embrace, and support all those who flee; we need to protect and care for those who are desperately seeking asylum.

Question for reflection

How would I feel if my family was endangered by fanatics? Where would I go to flee the danger?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, open our nations to receive those who are fleeing from evil. Challenge us into caring for the least among us and the most scared around us. Remind us that to do nothing will enable evil to prevail. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s church bulletin cover drawings based on the words of Psalm 125. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Psalm 125.